Growth and characterization of zinc oxide nano/micro-fibers by thermal chemical reactions and vapor transport deposition in air

Zinc oxide (ZnO) crystal fibers were prepared on silicon (100) substrate via a simple thermal chemical reactions vapor transport deposition method in air with a mixture of ZnO and carbon powders as reactants. The growth process was carried out at 1100°C in a quartz tube with one side opened to the air. There is no other metal catalyst and carrier gas in the process. The scanning electron microscope measurements showed that the ZnO fibers obtained had diameters ranging from 300 nm to 1.5 μm and the maximal lengths up to 1 mm, resulting in an aspect ratio estimated as high as about 600. The ZnO fibers were also characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy. The growth mechanism is explained by chemical reactions and vapor-liquid-solid mechanism.